Breadfruit is a tropical crop grown widely throughout the Pacific and South East Asia. Its use by humans can be traced back some 3500 years. The flowering tree was discovered by the ancestral line of Polynesians in New Guinea. They cultivated the plant, quite often in place of rice. It was typically a primary staple in many of the Pacific islands with the exception of New Zealand and Easter Island which did not provide favorable temperatures for its growth. It is still used in Hawaiian cuisine and has become a promising export crop because of its versatility and application in construction, medicine and the diet.

Hawaiian Legend of Breadfruit
The origin of the breadfruit has been subject to Hawaiian mythology. The early natives believed that the war god Ku descended to the earth to live among the islanders in secret. During that time he married and started a family of his own and lived prosperously. In the ensu ing years a great famine plagued his new home. Refusing to see his children and wife suffer he decided to sacrifice himself for the greater good. He buried himself deep within the ground until only the top of his head could be seen. For a few days his family grieved at the same spot where his rem ain s were. Their tears saturated the ground and eventually a small shoot emerged from the soil. In no time it became a large, fertile tree which was filled with many never before seen fruits. These provided nourishment for his family and the other natives who were thankful to Ku for his great gift.

The True Origins of the Polynesian Breadfruit
The breadfruit's origins have been traced back to the Pacific and its cluster of islands and land masses. The potato like fruit was used amply by the ancestors of the first Polynesians : the Melanesians or Lapita people. Much has been learned about the migration patterns of these ancient people by studying the cultivation history of the breadfruit throughout the Pacific. Its movement from Melanesia to t he Polynesian islands was facilitated by sea travel. The durable fruit has the ability to survive long voyages while maintaining its ability to be replanted, thus its prominence on the sub-tropical Polynesian islands. The general dispersal of the breadfruit supports the west to east migration hypothesis and has been used to explain the migration patterns of some of the first known civilizations.

The 16 th Century and Beyond
As the 16 th century came to a close, many European explorers realized the crop's potential. It was easy to grow and was ideal for use in the tropical colonies as a primary staple. Several cultivars were brought to the new colonies with more than moderate success. The most notable attempt at cultivating the breadfruit was noted by William Bligh in 1787. Bligh led his expedition, on the HMS Bounty, with an ample supply of crew members to Tahiti, where the plant would be collected for transport to the West Indies. For five months the crew remained on the island collecting as m any as 1000 plants. Unfortunately, while the yield would have provided enough plants for propagation, the expedition suffered severe losses when the crew mutinied, in the process throwing Bligh and a few loyal crew members overboard with only a small canoe to traverse the rough seas.

William Bligh overcame this set back and once again led an expedition in 1791 this time with much more success. Once the breadfruit had been planted on the West Indian islands Bligh was awarded a Royal Society Medal. However, the breadfruit was not a favorite among slaves , who refused to eat it. While the plant thrived in many tropical climates it did not have much commercial value like the sugar cane or tobacco. It was however, used on occasion by the natives for its dietary value.

In present times, the breadfruit has gained some popularity. It is still predominantly grown in the Pacific and the Caribbean, with the latter reaping the greatest benefits from exports. The crop is traded to North America and Europe where it is considered a fair substitute for potato. New methods of preparing the breadfruit have been considered including, canning, freeze drying, frying and storing in chip form and as a natural starch extract with diverse applications in the textile industry.

Physical Characteristics of the Polynesian Breadfruit
On average a breadfruit tree grows to heights of roughly 85 feet. It has large spreading leaves and all areas of the plant produce a milky substance or latex that can be used for boat caulking. The plant produces both male and female flowers, or in other words, it is monoecious. The male flowers are the first to bloom on a typical breadfruit tree followed later by the female flowers that may be pollinated in a mere three days. The main pollinators of the plants are fruit bats.

The tree has the capacity to yield more than 200 fruits per season making it an invaluable staple in some tropical regions. The yields do vary depending on the area in which it is being grown. Currents estimates suggest that the highest-yields are found in southern India with 200 fruits per tree, then the South Pacific with 150 per tree and the Caribbean with a modest 25 per tree. The wetness or dryness of the geographical location also has the potential to affect the total yield.

Historical and Modern Day uses of the Breadfruit
Hawaiians have long used the breadfruit in numerous ways. The traditional food known as poi was and is still made with either taro or breadfruit. When the poi is made with breadfruit it is called poi'ulu. The wood for the tree was often used to create outrigger canoes that were sturdy enough to sustain long sea voyages. The wood is resistant to termite and shipworm infestation making it an ideal construction material. The fruit was also utilized for its medicinal purposes often as a natural sore eye reliever and for the treatment of sciatica.

The breadfruit remains one of Hawaii's most significant dietary crops. The plant continues to be used in a variety of applications and produces high yields during its most active season. It has gained some popularity partly because of its importance to research and also because of its versatility. The crop is a mainstay on the Polynesian islands, where it thrives to this day.

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